Collection des desseins, des figures colossales & des groupes qui ont été faits de neige, dans plusieurs ruës [...] de la Ville d'Anvers, le mois de Janvier 1772, par différens artistes & élèves de l'Académie Royale de dessein établie en la même ville [...].

2 works in 1 vol., 8vo: [16] pp.; 24 pl. (some very rare spotting).

Later half green sheep, marbled paper on covers (rubbed), gilt orn. flat spine, red leather title label, red speckled edges.

Superb and rare work being a testimony of a unique event during a rigorous winter in 18th-c. Antwerp. In January 1772 artists of the Antwerp Academy presented ice and snow sculptures in the frozen streets and courtyards. Anxious to preserve the memory of these ephemeral works, Robiano (1733-1785), asked the canon Antoon de Vries to write a descriptive comment to explain the sculptures and the names of the artists. They represented classical figures and scenes: fountains and statues, allegories of the Scheldt, a battle of centaurs, etc. 24 sculptures were engraved by A. Cardon after J. Rubens, J.P. Borrekens, and other artists. The work is dedicated to Charles de Lorraine, whose portrait is found on pl. 15. Text printed within border of type ornaments.
Ref. Berlin Kat. 4222. - Anet. - Opac KBR (the work is often erroneously attributed to Eugène Jean Baptiste de Robiano). - BnF. - STCV.
Bound with, same subject: [van der Sanden, Jacques] - Antwerpsche faem-baszuyn van Pallas, dank en lof tot den adel der beyde geslagten; en beste stadsgenoten; aenmoedigende door mildaedigheyd de werkzaeme konstzugt der queekelingen van de Koninglyke Academie en de oeffenaers der schoon konsten in het uytvrogten van sneeuwe colossen. Antwerp, J. Grangé, s.d. 20 pp. Rare description of various snow sculptures by students of the Antwerp Academy of Arts in Dutch verse by van der Sanden (1726-1799), secretary of the Antwerp Academy and editor of the "Gazette van Antwerpen". Ref. Berlin Kat. 4221. - Anet. - Not in STCV, Opac KBR, BnF.
Prov. De Beauffort (armorial bookpl.). - Libr. label on spine.